Darfur Relief

   Photo by Steve Boyer

Our Work in Darfur

In April, 2007, we deployed our first medical specialist to Darfur since 2005.
 
In August, Medical Teams International (as part of the Global Relief Alliance) received a grant from the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) to continue our outreach in Darfur. This grant will be used primarily to support 3 health facilities with staffing, medicines and supplies; to train health providers in prevention of diseases; and to promote health and hygiene education.

Press release: Medical Teams International Awarded Grant to Help Darfur Families in Sudan

We continue to improve primary health care services to internally displaced people (IDP) and farming communities. Medical Teams International is supporting activities in Sanidadi, Um Tagouk and Azerni health clinics by:

• Providing monthly drugs and medical supplies.
• Supervising and monitoring clinic health services.
• Following up with patient consultation and treatments.
• Conducting mass health education sessions to raise community awareness about the importance of good hygiene.
• Continuing to supervise and monitor the activities of community health promoters at the household level.
• Deploying volunteer physicians and nurses for 4-6 week durations to provide health training and primary care.

Read more about our involvement with the Global Relief Alliance.

The GRA's multi-sectoral intervention focused on health, hygiene, water and sanitation, food security/livelihood issues, and nutrition in three districts east and northeast of El Geneina, West Darfur.

Despite a challenging security environment, Medical Teams International continued its programming and provided regular support to 60,000 beneficiaries in the Um Tagouk and Sanidadi clinics. Through our support, the following work was accomplished:

• 1,500 patients received primary health care services at two clinics per month.
• 3,000 households received community health and hygiene promoters monthly.
• Essential drugs and medical supplies reached the Um Tagouk and Sanidadi clinics.
• 10 mass health education sessions were held monthly in surrounding villages with an audience of 1,000 people.

Our Volunteer Medical Specialists

Six teams deployed to Sudan in 2004-05, before the increase in security issues in September 2005, when all non-essential field staff were evacuated from El Geneina. Seven medical specialists operated and helped expand services at medical clinics and enhanced knowledge and skills of national medical personnel/clinic assistants. They also trained community hygiene promoters to conduct household clinics, educating their communities on environmental and personal hygiene and water-related disease.

Related information: